Adelaide Fringe Review: Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit
★★★★★
Pictured: Promotional Image, Fringe Event Page - Credit: Mark Gambino
Show name: Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit
Presented by: David Massingham
Venue: Hetzel Room (at State Library)
Performance dates: 18th Feb - 23rd March 2025
For fans of cozy crime shows, “Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit” is the perfect mix of hilarious improv and puzzling crimes. Set in the aptly named “Murder Village”, the show centres around a collection of four quintessential characters in a British murder mystery. Consisting of a slightly unhinged priest, clumsy midwife, aging child star and ghost hunter, the show is completely improvised from start to finish. Playing into the classic structure of having an incompetent, one-person police department that often relies on what one can only refer to as amateur sleuth consultants, said consultant, a famous French detective, is responsible for piecing together the improvised clues that the cast provides him.
What makes the show even more unique is the fact that the audience chooses the plot line. Prior to entering the theatre, audience members are asked to scan a QR code and answer questions such as who they would like to be: the victim, the murderer, an incriminating clue, a unique characteristic of the town, such as how they celebrate spring, and the murder weapon. In doing so, the cast provides the audience with an immediate “buy-in” as they are curious to see if their choices are selected. This is made better when audience members suddenly realise their suggestion of having an albino pigeon fly around the town to celebrate the start of spring, is chosen, and the cackles of glee echo throughout the room.
You would think with the show being fully improvised the character development would be lacking, however it was completely the opposite. The development of motives, secret pasts and foes leaves the audience constantly questioning who did it, why and how. The actors are also able to do this with very minimal props. The set consists of the classic improv black curtain backdrop along with an incredibly talented pianist, and that was about it. The actors did a fantastic job of painting a picture of a quintessential English town and providing key clues to the audience, helping them to piece together the puzzle. Housing the theatre in the South Australian State Library also gave the 1950s murder show an air of immediate mystery and intrigue for the audience as they waited to file into the theatre.
This improv show is excellent for anyone looking for an evening out with their family or friends, as it is rated PG. For those who haven’t seen improv shows before, this is a great introduction as it still follows a traditional storyline and leaves the audience perplexed that it was entirely improvised, which is a massive credit to the actors. Additionally, if you are a fan of mysteries, past or present, this is a great way to actually test how good your crime-solving skills are, as the audience discovers it along with the detective. Overall, I would give this show a five out of five stars for pretty much anyone looking for a fun night out and something they DEFINITELY wouldn’t have seen before (obviously, because it’s all improvised but also cause it’s a unique concept for a show).
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/murder-village-an-improvised-whodunnit-af2025
https://www.improvisedwhodunnit.com/